2025 Road Safety School - Temporary Work Zones course

Join Ontario's Premier Road Safety Education Event

This comprehensive 4-day program begins with a full-day Safe System Principles conference attended by all participants, followed by three intensive days of temporary work zone safety training. Discover how proper work zone management is essential to the Safe System approach—maintaining safety for both workers and road users during construction and maintenance activities.

Course Description

Day 1: Safe System Principles Conference (All Participants) Learn how temporary work zones can be managed within Safe System principles to protect both workers and road users, and understand the unique challenges these dynamic environments present.

Days 2-4: Temporary Work Zones Training The "Municipal Liability: Temporary Work Zones" course provides up-to-date comprehensive training on the safety requirements for temporary work zones on municipal roads in Ontario. The curriculum is primarily based on the latest edition (April 2022) of the Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM) Book 7 and the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

Currently, there is no standard system in place for municipalities or contractors to ensure that site personnel and engineers/supervisors receive mandatory training on developing and implementing traffic protection and control plans for temporary work zones. This lack of compliance can compromise the safety of all road users (including motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians) and site personnel and may lead to costly claims in the event of an incident.

The course addresses this gap by equipping participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to develop and implement essential safety plans in temporary work zones. It also emphasizes the importance of proper training and certification for site personnel, which can be used as proof of competency in ensuring the safety of all road users and site personnel.

Several real-life examples are discussed to explain how municipalities were found liable for failing to ensure the safety of road users (including motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists) in temporary work zones.

Course Content

• Introduction to temporary work zones and their associated risks
• The history of the Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM) Book 7 and its role in ensuring safety in temporary work zones
• Compliance with the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and O. Reg. 213/91 (construction projects)
• Developing and implementing Transportation Management Plans, Traffic Control Plans, and Traffic Protection Plans
• Typical layouts of temporary traffic control at temporary work zones
• Speed management in temporary work zones
• Considerations for vulnerable road users in work zones
• Visibility considerations at nighttime
• Traffic control devices used in temporary work zones
• Temporary traffic control for unplanned events
• The importance of maintaining records of safety plans and training certificates
• Case studies illustrating the consequences of inadequate safety measures in temporary work zones

Who Should Attend

The primary audience for this course includes engineers and technicians/technologists who work or supervise work in temporary work zones. It is relevant for those employed by municipalities or contractors involved in roadway construction and maintenance. The course is also beneficial for engineers involved in designing projects impacting traffic operations or exposing workers to traffic.

Prerequisites

Participants are encouraged to bring the following:

• A copy of the 2022 edition of the Ontario Traffic Manual – Book 7 (download for free at otc.org/ontario-traffic-manuals/)
• An Internet-connected device (tablet, laptop, or smartphone) for participating in course polls using the Slido app

Evaluation Process

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

• Course Project 1 (designing a traffic control plan – day 1): 40%
• Course Project 2 (analyzing a case study related to a temporary work zone – day 2): 40%
• Final online test (20 multiple-choice questions): 20%

Participants must achieve a minimum score of 60% to pass and will receive a certificate of completion upon successful completion.

What's Included

Registration includes the full 4-day program: Day 1 Safe System Principles conference, 3-day Temporary Work Zones course, continental breakfast, lunch, and refreshments each day.